Rope-winding engine.



H. N. COVELL.

ROPE WINDING ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19, 1910. 1 ,042,090.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

%, :5 avwewfoz wit we as as H. N. COVELL.

ROPE WINDING ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO,19, 1910.

1 ,O42,090. Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 5/ '2 3151 2 flttozmurW Hr N. COVELL.

ROPE WINDING ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 220.19, 1910'.

1,042,090. Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

H ARRY N. COVELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO LIDGERWOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ROPE-WINDING ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

Application filed December 19, 1910. Serial No. 598,158.

To (1. whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, HARRY N. CovELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rope-\Vinding Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates broadly and generally to new and useful improvements in rope winding engines and more particularly contemplates a structure adapted for use as a towing engine; that is, an engine including a drum adapted to be mounted on a towing vessel, the drum being arranged to have the towing line wound thereon, and operable to take up or let out the line, as may be desired, or to hold the same at a constant length.

The invention consists in the improved construction of parts and their arrangement in operative combination to be fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly clai red.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification and wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an exemplification of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly in section of a towing engine embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional View taken through a winding drum adapted to have a rope wound thereon.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, A designates a substanti" bedplate or base frame of such dimensions and design as to adapt it to the purposes for which it is intended and upon which the various operative parts of the engine are arranged. The specific construction of this bed-plate capable of wide variation, but I prefer that it consist of a substantial casting comprising longitudinal side members 1. 2, joined at their ends by end members 3, 4, said frame being provided with lateral extensions 5, 6 at one end thereof. Thev frame is braced by a transverse member 7 I which is joined to. the end member 3 by a member 8 arranged parallel to the said end extensions.

Rising from the end extensions 5, 6 and the member 7 are pillars 9, 10, 11, each of which is provided at its upper end portion with a bearing 12, said bearings being in alinement with each other and receiving a horizontally disposed shaft 13 which extends transversely of the frame.

By this arrangement it will be seen that the shaft is divided into two portions disposed respectively on opposite sides of the pillar l0, and on the shaft sections, respectively, are mounted driving gears 14, 15, said gears being arranged on opposite sides of the pillar 10 and preferably closely adacent the same. These gears 14, 15 respectively mesh with pinions l6 and 17 mounted on a horizontally disposed power shaft 18 having bearings in the side members 1, 2, as shown at 19, the ends of the shaft projecting beyond said side members and having mounted thereon crank disks 20, 20, which are connected to pitiren 21, 21 which are in turn connected to the sliding cross heads 22, 22, operated by the pistons 23, 23 of fluid pressure cylinders 24, 24, whereby the crank shaft may be driven to rotate the driving gears 14 and 15. Any suitable valve mechanism for controlling the fluid pressure cylinders may be employed.

The particular fluid pressure engine and its controlling means is illustrated merely as one type of motor which may be conveniently used for generating the necessary power to drive the power shaft 18 and Iv wish it understood that I do not desire to be limited to any particular type of motor for this purpose.v

In view of the fact that the specific construction of the engine forms no part of my present invention, I do not deem it necessary to enter into any more detailed description of the same, except to say that it is preferably of the type which will permit the reversal of the direction of rotation of the driving shaft, although this is not absolutely essential.

Mounted on the side members 1, 2 between a transverse plane occupied by the engine cylinders and the power shafts are pillars 25, 25 having bearings 26,26 in WhlCh 1s nounted a horizontally disposed drum shaft 27 upon which is arranged a driving gear 28, which meshes with a pinion 29 on the power shaft. By the arrangement shown and described the driving shaft may operate to simultaneously drive all of the driving gears 14, 15 and 28.

Mounted upon eachof the sections of the shaft 13 and upon the shaft 27 is a rope drum adapted to receivea towing line which connects the towing vessel to the tow, and as these drums are all of the same construction, a description of one will be sufficient to give a clear idea of my invention.

Each drum consists of a barrel 30 having end flanges 31, said drums being arranged to slide longitudinally of their shafts toward and away from their respective driving gears, so that said drums may be c011- nected or disconnected from said driving gears. The adjacent faces of the drums and their driving gears are provided respectively with annular friction rings 3P, 31 by means of which sufficient friction may be generated between the drums and their gears whereby the gears will drive the drums. Adjacent the end ofeac'h drum opposite to that which is adapted to frictionally engage with the driving gear is a fixed friction surface 32 preferably annular in form, and concentric to the drum shaft, said friction surface being provided with .a friction ring 33 adapted to frictionally engage with a co-acting friction rin 34 carried by the adjacent end flange o the drum. 7

, Means is provided for moving each drum longitudinally of its shaft so as to place it in frictional contact with its driving gear to be driven therefrom to take up or pay out the rope and to move it out of drivlng contact with its driving gear to place it in engagement with the fixed friction surface whereby the drum will be held against revolution. I will now proceed to describe this means which also contemplates the provision of an arrangement whereby the drum, when in engagement with the fixed friction surface, may slip relative thereto to. prevent disastrous results which might ensue from an excessive pull on the towing line. Mounted on the drum shaft is a thrust sleeve 35 which is arranged so as to rotate about the shaft and to move longitudinally thereof, the outer end of the sleeve being threaded to cooperate with corresponding threads, as shown at 36, arranged in the hub 37 of the fixed friction surface, the arrange ment being such that a rotation of the sleeve 35 will serve to move the same either toward or away from the end of the drum. The opposite end of the sleeve 35 extends to a point adjacent the hub or barrel of the drum where it is provided with an end flange 38 separated preferably from the end of the drum by an antifriction washer 39. Surrounding the shaft and sleeve 35 is a chamber 40 having at one end an abutment consisting preferably of an inwardly turned flange 41 closely approaching the outer surface of the sleeve and said chamber at its opposite end being provided with an outwardly projected flange 42, which is adapted to be adjustably connected to the head of the drum by means of bolts 43 and nuts 44, this end of the sleeve being preferably slidable over a projection 45 on the head of the drum. Arranged within this chamber and surrounding the sleeve 35 is a coil spring 46, the ends of which respectively abut the flange 41 and a washer 47 adjacent the flange 38,'said washer being limited in its movement toward the spring by engagement with an annular shoulder 48 in the inner face of the sleeve 40. The washer 47 is preferably separated from the flange 38 on the sleeve by means of an anti-friction washer 49, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Any suitable means may be employed for rotating the sleeve 35 to cause it to move along the drum shaft, but the following is a simple and effective way of accomplishing this result: Mounted on the sleeve 35 and keyed thereto is a gear 50 which meshes with a pinion 51 mounted on a horizontally disposed shaft 52 journaled in a bearing 53 preferably mounted on or formed in the fixed friction structure, said shaft being rotatable by means of a hand lever 53.

I will now proceed to describe the operation of the invention: If it is desired to place one of the drums in engagement with its driving gear so as to takeup, 0r positively pay out the towing line, the hand lever 53 is operated to so rotate the shaft 52 that said sleeve 35 will be thrust into engagementwith the head of the drum and the latter will thereby be moved longitudinally of its shaft to place its friction ring in contact with the friction ring on the amount of towing line is taken up or paid out, the drum is disconnected from its driving means and placed in frictional engagement with the fixed driving surface, at its opposite end, and in order to do this, the hand lever 53 is moved in the opposite di rection from that above described, so that the sleeve is moved in the opposite direction, and acting through the flange 38, spring 46 and flange 41 will move the drum toward the fixed friction surface to place the friction rings on the drum and said surto the friction surface.

face in contact to hold the drum against the paying out of the line.

It will be understood that by provision of the spring between the sleeve 35 and the drum the latter will be held in engagement with the fixed friction element with a yielding contact, so that should the pull on the line exceed that determined upon, the drum may slip relative to the fixed friction, to prevent the breaking of the line or injury to the towing engine. The degree of the friction between the drum and the fixed friction element may be determined by the degree of compression given the spring, thisbelng ac-' complished by adjustment of the nuts 44 on the bolts 33, the nuts being screwed upto increase the force of the spring and let out to lessen it. For example, should the degree of pull on the line be determined as being 3000 pounds, then the force of the spring is regulated at or above 3000 pounds, sothat the drum cannot slip so long as the pull on the line remains at or below 3000,, but it is obvious that should the pull exceed the amount set, then the drum will slip relative If it should be desired that the drum beheld in engagement with the friction surface with a hlgher degree of friction than can be' given bythe spring without adjusting the compresslon of the nuts 44, then the sleeve in moving the drum toward said friction element is moved far enough to place the washer 47 in engagement with the shoulder 48 in the sleeve 40, whereby the drum will be positively moved into engagement with said friction element.

While I have shown an arrangement embodying three friction drums, I wish it understood that I do not desire to be limited to such an arrangement of any particular number of drums, nor do I desire to be limited in any way to a towing engine as the invention is capable of use and will prove valuable in connection with different types of rope winding engines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent is 1. In a rope engine, a revoluble drum, a revoluble driving element, a fixed friction element, a thrust means movable in one direction to couple the drum to the driving element, and movable in the other direction to uncouple the drumfrom the driving element and move it into engagement with the friction element, means to provide a positive engagement between the thrust means and drum when moving the latter to couple it to the driving element, and a cushion connec-' tion operating between said thrust means and drum when thelatter is moved to engage the friction element.

2. In a rope engine, a revoluble drum and means for driving the same, a fixed friction surface, means for placing the drum, in fricsprin between said means andthe drum.

3. n a rope engine, a drum, a driving elefriction element adjacent one end of the drum, means for, moving the drum into enga ement with said fixed friction element an a spring adapted to exert its thrust expansively between said means and drum.

4. In a rope engine, a shaft, a drum and a driving gear on the shaft, a fixed friction element, means for placing the drum and driving element in driving connection, means for placing the drum in engagement with the fixed friction element, a spring between said means and the drum, and means whereby the drum may be positively placed inv contact with the friction element.

5. In a rope engine, a shaft, a drum and a' driving element on the shaft, means for connecting the drum and element to drive the drum, a fixed friction element concentric with the shaft, means for moving the drum into engagement with the driving element, and means for disconnecting the drum and driving element and connecting the drum to the fixed friction element, and yielding means to permit slip of the drum relative to said friction element.

'tional contact with said surface, and a 6. In a rope engine, a drum, a driving element, means for connecting the drum and driving element to drive the drum, afixed friction element adjacent one end of the drum,-means to disconnect the drum from the driving element and place the drum in engagement with said friction element, means to provide a yielding engagement of the drum with said friction element, and means for positively engaging the drum with said friction element.

7. In a rope engine, a revoluble drum, a revoluble driving element, means for coupling and uncoupling said drum and element, a fixed braking surface, means for moving and holding the drum in engagement with said surface, whenthe drum and driving element are disconnected and a spring between said means and drum placed under compression when said drum and surface are engaged, and providing a yielding engagement between the drum and said surmeans and the drum, and means wherebysaid spring is placed under compression when the drum is engaged with the fixed friction element.

9. In a rope engine, a revoluble drum and means for driving the same, a fixed friction element, means for disconnecting the drum from the driving means and placing it in engagement with the fixed friction element, a spring between said means and the drum, and means for adjusting the force of the spring.

10. In a rope engine, a revoluble drum .and means for driving the same, a fixed friction element, means for disconnecting the drum from the driving means, means for moving the drum into contact with the fixed friction element, and a spring between said moving means and the drum.

11. In a rope engine, a revoluble drum, :1 fixed friction element adapted to be engaged by the drum, an element for moving the drum against said friction element, a spring between said element and drum, an inclosure connecting the spring and drum, and means for adjusting the inclosure relative to the drum to regulate the force of the spring.

12. In a rope drum, the combination of a shaft, a drum on the shaft, a fixed friction element, a projection on the drum between the drum and the fixed friction element, a thrust element surrounding the shaft and inclosed by said projection, and a spring between said projection and the thrust element whereby a yielding connection is provided between the drum and its moving means and the drum is held in yielding contact with the friction element.

13. In a rope drum, a shaft, a drum on the shaft, a fixed friction element adjacent an end of the drum, means for moving the drum into engagement with said friction surface comprising a thrust sleeve surrounding the shaft, a casing on the drum receiving said sleeve, a spring in the casing compressible between the sleeve and the casing, and means for moving the sleeve lengthwise of the shaft.

14:. In a rope drum, a shaft, a drum on the shaft, a fixed friction element adjacent one end of the drum, and means for moving the drum into engagement with said friction surface comprising a thrust sleeve surrounding the shaft and'having a projection, a casing secured to the drum and receiving the noaaoao 15. In a rope drum, a shaft, a drum on the shaft, a fixed friction element adjacent one end of the drum, and means for movin the drum into engagement with the fixed friction element comprising a thrust sleeve threaded into a fixed support, and having a projection, a casing on the drum receiving the sleeve and having a projection, a spring inclosed within the casing between said projections, and means for rotating the sleeve to cause it to move longitudinally of the shaft.

16. In a rope drum, a shaft, a driving element on the shaft, a fixed friction element surrounding the shaft, a drum between the driving element and the fixed element, and means for moving the drum longitudi nally of the shaft to engage and disengage the same from the driving element and the friction element said means comprising a thrust element surrounding the shaft and engaging the drum, a casing on the drum receiving the thrust element, and a spring be tween the thrust element and said casing.

17. In a rope drum in combination, a shaft, a driving element, a drum on the shaft, a fixed friction element adjacent one end of the drum, and means for moving the drum toward and away from said friction element comprising a thrust element mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof between the drum and the fixed ele' ment, a casing on the drum receiving the thrust element, a spring between the thrust element and the casing, and means whereby a positive connection is established between the thrust element and the casing.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY N. CO VELL- Witnesses:

Geo. ALLEN, CHAS. I-I. TELLER. 

